Visiting the Bish
Those that know me even in the slightest realise that I don't really do the deity thing, I didn't do it before spending 3 years in Ulster but the experience of life in a place where my first name led to certain assumptions about the faith I may follow kinda hardened the lack of belief. Less of a problem on a day to day basis but it could get hairy if I was in the same pub on raft race day as a number of marching bands and someone called my name. We'd then go through the whole rigmarole of incorrect assumption followed by panic as an English accent came out of my mouth when I ordered a beer. Eventually one brave representative of those that love orange would ask what religion I was and then enquire on the atheist response if that would be a Catholic or Protestant one? Surprisingly though given this as a background I actually enjoy visiting places of worship. Not to mock, I'm more than happy if others want to mutter the odd prayer, chant the odd chant or whatever their faith dictates, but to look at the way the faithful represent themselves. So today when we did the Corporate Induction at the Anglican Cathedral it was nice to wander round. Sure I mocked the book on 'The Organs of the Cathedral' but I have a rep to maintain! Nice touch was the 12.00 prayer. A still place and nice to see the place in action. I have to confess though I find the other Cathedral (and particularly the car park beneath it) a more spiritual venue. Yes the Anglicans do things with impressive size and thats impressive in its way, and the place has that special brand of Anglican hush, but it's not as intimate as the Wigwam. Still what do I know!
